Cement-block machine.



Witnesse v r I No. 815,098. PATENTED MAR. 13, 1906. KLAY. CEMENT BLOGK MACHINE.

A1PLIOLTION FILED AUG. 28,1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. Jflmrezzrmy Inventor.

I I J.

Attorneys Witnesse p I. I

PATBNTED MAR."13, 1906. KLAY. GEMBN'T'BLOGK MACHINE. APPLICATION 31mm AUG.28,1905

' 4 sun eam:- z. 4

Attorn eys PATEN TBD MAR. 13, 1906. A. KLAY. v CEMENT BLOGK MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 28,1905.

v 4 SHEETS SHBETB.

izzdremmy,

Inventor.

Attorneys quickly and accurately adjusted bottom of the UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE. ANDREW K'LAY, or BLUFFTON, O io. I

' CEMENT-BLOCK MACHINE? manufacture of building-blocks and t'he'like" from concrete or other plastic material, and has for one of itsobjects to provide a machine of simple construction which may be for the manufacture of blocks of different dimensions. v

A further obj ectof the invention is to conrapidlymoved to open and closed positions and provide means for raising and lowering the removable pallet-board which'forms the mold during the molding operation.

A still furtherobject of the invention is to:

provide a machine of this character in which the several side and end walls of the mold are formed of separately-detachable memhere which maybe readily replaced by other members ofdiffer'ent size or bearing different designs in accordance with the character of the block to be manufactured.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine having movable side and end walls in which a side wall and end wall are coupled together for mutual movement during the opening of the mold, provision being made, however, for moving said members in successive order at the starting of the op eration in order to freesaid members from contact with the molded block.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel form of pallet supporting and operating mechanism whereby the pallet may be firmly locked in place during the molding operation and which will permit of the ready discharge of the pallet and block after the opening of the mold.

With these and. other objects 'in View, as will more fully hereinafter a pear, the invention consists in certain nove features of con-.

struction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing Specification of Letters Patent. l Application filed August 28, 1905. Serial No. 276,138.

J the passage of the pallet-board-carrying vices, and 'near each corner of the I :in the present instance is rectangular in form, is arranged a guide-block, these blocks 12, 13

'block serving as Itions of the mold-box carrying frame.

and by Patented March '13, 1906.

from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the-invention.

In the'accompanying drawings, Figure l is ia perspective view of a block-molding machine constructed in accordance with the invention. of the same on the line2 '2 of is atransverse sectional view the line 3 3 of Fig. 4. Fig.

plan View of the machine on-the line 4 4 of Fig 2 1s'a vertical sectional view Fig. 4. Fig. 3 of the same on 4'is a sectional F1g. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the side members of the mold-box detached.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondin the several figures of the struct a machine in which the mold may be raWings. The various working parts of the machine are supported in a suitable frame, which in the present instance includes a bed or table- 10, that iscarried by standards 11.

The central portion of the table is open for detable, which 14, and 15'being securely-bolted in position and'the inner edge and inner end of each a guiding member for por- Extending lengthwise of the table and having' their opposite ends resting on the upper surface thereof are twolongitudinally-movable bars 16 and 17, the central portions of which are depressed and pass through the opening in the table, these central portions being I provided with suitable strengthening- 'ribs 19. The bars are held in spaced relation by means of two plates 20 and 21, that are se-' cured to opposite ends of the table, respectively, and one end of each plate is provided with a projecting'rib 22, fitting in an underout groove in the face of the guide-block, the ribof the bar 16 fitting'ina groove in block .15, while the rib 22 of bar 17fits within the groove of the block 12. Projecting from these two bars 16 and 17 are lugs 24 and 25, respectively, said lu s having openings pro vided with internal t eads for the reception of the'right and left hand threads of a screw 26, the outerunthreadedend of said screw extending throughan opening in a bearingbracket 28,th'at is carried by the plate 21. The screw'is held from lon itudinal movement by a collar 29 at one sife of the bearing a hub 30 of a wheel31'at the opposite side 0' parts throughout IIO said bearing. This-wheel has a crankhandle 32, which when turned in one direc tion or the other will cause movement of the two bars 16 and 17, the bars moving in opposite directions, respectively.

Secured to the upper face of the bar 16 is a bracket 33, carrying a horizontally-disposed guide-bar 34, the upper and lower edges of which are beveled, and this bar is adapted to receive and support one end member 35 of the mold. The rear face of the end member 35 has a dovetail guiding-groove for the reception of the guide-bar 84, and when necessary this member may be removed by sliding it lengthwise of the bar and another end member substituted therefor, a number of in terchangeable end members being employed in connection with each machine in order that blocks of different design may be made.

Secured to the bar 17 is a vertically-disposed bracket 38, having a guide-bar 39, arranged for the reception of a second end member of the mold-box, this member being also provided with a dovetail groove for the reception of its guiding and supporting bar, and in the present instance both end members are shown as provided with inwardlyprojecting strips 41 at their lower edges, these being arranged to form a slightly-beveled face or corner around the bottom of the block. These strips may be removed and other strips of different size or shape substituted therefor in accordance with the character of the block to be made.

The inner ends of all of the guide-blocks 12 13, 14, and 15 are provided with undercut recesses for the reception of ribs 44, projecting from a pair of longitudinally-slidable bars 45 46, that are arranged transversely of the frame, the adjacent edges of the bars being in contact with each other and one being provided with a groove 47 for the reception of a rib 48, carried by the other. These two bars are provided, respectively, with inwardlyprojecting lugs 50 and 51, having threaded openings for the passage of a right and left hand screw 52, the outer end of which extends through an opening in a bearing bracket 53, bolted to the frame. The screw is held from longitudinal movement in one direction by a collar 54 at the'inner side of the bearing, and movement in the opposite direction is prevented by the hub of a wheel 55, that is provided with a suitable operatingcrank 56. By turning this crank the screw is revolved and the two bars are moved in the direction of their length, but in opposite directions, respectively. In order to prevent the entrance of any of the concrete or othermaterial between the two bars 45 and 46, a pair of shield-plates 57 58 are employed, one plate being carried by one bar and the other plate by the opposite bar and the edges of the two plates overlapping to form a continuous guard.

'To the bar 45 is secured a standard 60,

having a horizontally-disposed guide-bar 6], on which is slidably mounted one of the side wall members 62 of the mold, and the bar 46 is provided with a standard or bracket 64,

having a guide-bar 65, on which is mounted,

the second side wall member 66 of the moldbox. These side wall members are also shown as provided with the bottom strips 41., so that a continuous beveled face may be formed around the bottom of the block.

The two end members and two side members of the mold-box are shown in the present instance as comprising plates each having at its upper edge a horizontally-disposed flange 7 O, and this flange forms a convenient guide for the troweling or similar member by which the surplus material is removed from the filled mold. These flanges are further provided with graduations, generally in inches and half-inches, in order to permit the ready and accurate adjustment of the members for the formation of a block of any desired size, and for the purpose of more accurately adjusting said members the wheels 3] and may be provided with graduations indicating fractions of an inch. In practice the parts are so arranged that each complete revolution of one or other of the wheels will result in an adjustment of the mold members to the extent of one-half inch, while the periphery of each wheel is graduated for quarter, eighth, or other fractional parts of an inch, stationary pointers 71 being employed to indicate the proper adjustment.

To the lower edge of each one of the mold members is secured a spring-strip 74, one end of the strip being rigidly bolted to the mold member, while the free end has an upturned lip 75 fitting under the edge of an adjacent mold memberthat is to say, each side member of the mold will be provided with a strip for engagement with one end member and each end member will be provided with a strip for engaging one side member. The distance between each lip 75 and the end wall of the member which carries it is greater than the thickness of the wall of the member engaged, so that there is always some slight play between the two, this being necessary in order to free all of the members of the mold by direct outward movement from the block, and after such membersare once out of contact with the molded surface they may be moved in a direction parallel therewith in order to fully open the mold and permit the discharge of the block. The spring-strips, moreover, are of such nature that by merely exerting downward pressure on any one of the lips 75 and then moving the member which carries the strip said member may be detached from its carrying-bar and removed from the machine, permitting the substitution of another mold member having a 1n olding-face of different character.

Pivoted to two of the legs or standards of or standards, while the single. arm extends raise or lower the lever.

. tion andform the bottom of the mold. In

between the two oppositely disposed legs or standards and is'provided with a downwardly-extending flange 82. This end of the lever is supported by a cam 83, that is rigidly secured to a transversely-extending shaft-84,.

adapted to suitable hearings in the standards, and said cam may be moved to either The central portion of the lever is provided with an opening-for the passageof a freely-movable stem 85, carrying at its upper end a bar or plate 86, from the ends of which projecttwo sets of vertically-disposed pins '87.a nd '88, one pair of pins 87 extending throu hguiding openings formed in the block 20, while the a plate 89, that serves also as a shieldforjthe screw 26. ranged for: the reception of a removable pallet 90. These pallets may be formed of wood vided with recessesforthe. reception of the upper ends of the pins, so that the'plate may be readily centeredand heldin proper posiractice the pallet is held firmly against the ower edges ofthe side and end members by means of the cam 83 and lever 80 during themolding operation, and after the molding operation, during the movement of'the mold,

members to ppen position, the pallet iselevated to a position above the flanges 70,-so that it may with the molded block.

The legs or standards which support the lever 80 are provided with bearing-openings for the reception of-a transversely-extending of a link 97.

shaft 92, having an operating-lever 93.-at one end and provided at a point about midway of its length with a rocker-arm 94, that is ar ranged to engage the pin-carryin plate '86 for the purpose of elevating the pa let. The

lever 93 is extended to a point below theshaft 92 and is provided with a pin 95, entering an elongated slot 96, formed in one end The opposite end of the link is connected to a rocker-arm 98'on the shaft 84 and serves as ameans for transmitting movement to the cam 83.

In the operation of the device a I palletboard of proper size isplaced on the pins 87 v and 88, and lever 80 islowered by turning the shaft-84 until the lever-8O rests on the smallest part of the cam 83. The palletboard will then be some distance below the lower edges of the mold member, and the latter can be freely adjusted to form a mold-box of the required size.

7 second pair extends through guiding-openings formed in The upper. ends of the pins are-ar be readily removed, togethersurface materialhas beentroweledoif the;

mold-box is opened. To effect the opening movement, one of the cranks 32 or 56 is slightly turned; If the crank 32 is turned, the two end members 35 and will be moved away from each other and the. molding-faces will be spaced from the molded block. The movement ceases when the lower ends of'these members engagezwith the lips'75, projecting from the side members, for the reason that if further continued the side members would be moved in a direction parallel with the length of the molded block and as they assume contact with the blockthe molded surface ofthe latterwould be mutilated. The crank 56 is then turned and the Sidemembers are separated, moving freely until their edges; come into contactwith the lips75 of the spring-strips carried :by the end members. This movement, however, is c'ontinned, and the end members-are carried with the side members to open the'mold, and no- Iharm can result from this movement, inasmuch as the end members have alreadybeen spaced from the end walls -'of the molded block. If the pallet-board is of proper size, it may'thenbe elevated through the mold; :but if the board is larger than necessary they crank 32 is again turned in order to more 'widely space the .end members 35 and 40. The operator then grasps lever 93 and moves *the rocker-arm 94 mto engagementwith the plate 86, raising'the latter, together with the e pallet-board and molded block, the block be- %ing raised above the level of the flanges 70, so that it may be readily carried away.

A fresh pallet-board is then placed inposi- :tion, and the-opera'ting-lever is moved in the iI'GVQI'SG direction in'order to lower the pallet-,

?board to a position below the mold members. i

' The latter are then readjusted by turning the :cranks 32 and 56, after which the mold-box is in readiness for the reception of another :mass of concrete or-similar material.

With a device of this-kind it is possible to :quioklyadjust the machine forthe manufac- :ture of blocks of any size, and as the end .members and side members are all removable a block of any required design may be made. I-Iaving'thus described the invention, what is claimed is I '1. In a block forming machine, a .mold having side and end walls arran ed in pairs, each pair constituting a side walIand an end :wall, the wallsof each pair being movable 'firstsingly and then simultaneously.

2. In a-block-forming machine, a mold having movable side and end walls, means for loosely connecting thewalls of the pairs, each pair constituting a side wall .and an end wall, and a mold-opening means serving to space thewallsfrom the molded block, and

then to simultaneously move each pair of f walls, one wall of .each pair moving directly:

away from the block, and the other in a direction in parallel relation therewith.

3. In a block forming machine, a mold having movable side and end walls connected in pairs, each pair constituting a side wall and an end wall, and means for simultaneously moving all of the walls, the walls of each pair being loosely connected to permit independ ent movement at the starting of the moldopening operation.

4. In a block-forming machine, a mold-box including movable side and end walls, an operating means connecting the two side walls for simultaneous movement, and means for connecting each side wall to an end wall to in sure movement of the walls in pairs.

5. In a blockforming machine, a mold in cluding movable side and end walls, means for connecting the end walls for simultaneous movement, means for connecting the side walls for simultaneous movement, and means forming loose connections between each side wall and an end wall.

6. In a block-forming machine, a mold-box including movable side and end walls, a loose connection between one of the side walls and one of the end walls, an operating means for simultaneously moving said walls one in a direction away from the block, and the other parallel therewith, and means for spacing the atter wall from the molded block in advance of its movement with the first wall.

7. In a block-forming machine,a mold-box having movable side and end walls, guiding and supporting bars for said side and end walls, means for moving the guiding and supporting bars toward and from each other, and means for connecting the side and end walls in pairs, each constituting a side wall and an end wall, whereby movement of one set of guiding and supporting bars will space the walls carried thereby, and at the same time effect sliding movement of the remaining walls on their guiding and supporting bars.

8. In a block-forming machine, a mold-box including movable side and end walls, guiding and supporting bars for said walls, means for connecting said guidingand supporting bars and for moving the same toward and from each other, and loose connections between each side wall and an end wall, where.- by movement of either with its guiding and supporting bar will effect sliding movement gf the other on its guiding and supporting 9. In a block-forming machine, a mold in' side walls and on which said walls are movable in the direction of their lengths, and right-andleft end screws connecting said supporting and guiding bars in oppositely-arranged pairs.

11. In a block-forming machine, a moldbox including side and end walls, carriers on which said walls are movable in the direction of their lengths, a screw having right and left hand threads connecting the side-wall carriers, and a screw having right and left hand threads connecting the end-wall carriers.

12. In a block-forming machine, a moldboX comprising side and end walls, carrying members on which said walls are slidably mounted, a screw having right and left hand threads connecting the side-wall carriers, and a screw having right and left hand threads connecting the end-wall carriers.

13. In a block-forming machine, a moldboX including side and end walls having graduations for determining the size of the mold-box, carriers on which said side and end walls are slidably mounted, a screw having right and left hand threads connecting the side-wall carriers, a screw having right and left hand threads connecting the end -wall carriers, and loose connections for coupling the walls in pairs.

14. In a block-for1ning machine, the combination with side and end walls, of carriers on which said side and end walls are mounted, means for moving said carriers, and a spring carried by each wall and provided with an end tongue for engagement with the wall at a right angle thereto.

15. In a block-forming machine, a moldboX including side and end walls, each having a spring-strip projecting from one end thereof and having a terminal tongue or lip for engagement with the wall at a right angle thereto, wall-carriers on which said walls are slidably movable, and means for adjusting said carriers.

16. In a block-forming machine, the combination with a frame, of two pairs of slidable bars mounted thereon, one pair being at a right angle to the other, right and left hand screws connecting the bars of each pair, side and end walls having dovetail grooves, and guiding and supporting bars fitting within said grooves and mounted on the slidable bars.

17. In a block-forming machine, the combination with a frame, of the movable side and end walls, slidable bars arranged in pairs on said frame and carrying said walls, lugs projecting from the bars and provided with openings, screws having right and left hand threads fitting within said openings and sew ing as means for adjusting the bars, and guard-plates fitting over said bars.

18. In a block-forming machine, the combination with the side and end members of bination with the mold-box, of a removable "allet constituting the bottom of the mo (1 box, and

means for forcing the pallet upward into en' gagement with the side and end members and locking the same in place during'the moldin operation.

19-. n a block-forming machine, the com the movable side and end members, of a removable pallet forming the bottom of the mold-box, a plurality of pins on which said pallet is mounted, a supportingplate for said pins, a lever for elevating the 7 plate, a cam for operating said lever, and an auxiliary means for enga ing the plate and raising the pallet and mol ed block.

20. In a block-forming machine, the combination with the side and end members of a mold-box, of a removable pallet forming the bottom of the mold-box, a lever pivoted at ranged to engage the pin-carrying plate, and

means opera le through said lever for turning[ the cam.

testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aifixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ANDREW KLAY. Witnesses: I i.

O. V. SAVERLEIN. W. B. MOORE. 

